Azami 221

Bukhari narrated it in the Book of Tawhid (7402), and he titled the chapter over it, "What is mentioned regarding the Divine Essence, its attributes, and the names of Allah " from Abu Yaman, who said, Shuayb informed us, from Zuhri, who said, Amr bin Abu Sufyan bin Usayd bin Jariya Thaqafi, an ally of Banu Zahra who was among the companions of Abu Hurairah, informed me, that Abu Hurairah said (he then mentioned it).As for what has been narrated from Ibn Abbas, "Reflect on everything, but do not reflect on the Essence of Allah, for between the seventh heaven and His Throne there are a thousand lights, and He is above that," this is mawquf and daif. Abu Jafar bin Abu Shayba narrated it in his book "The Throne" (16), and this is his wording, through the route of Khalid bin Abdullah. Abu Shaykh narrated it in "Al-Azamah" (1/214), and Bayhaqi narrated it in "Al-Asma wal-Sifat" (618), both through the route of Ali bin Asim Wasiti. Both of them, meaning Khalid and Ali, narrated from Ata bin Saaib, from Saeed bin Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas, who then mentioned it.In "Al-Azamah" the wording is "seven thousand years of light," and in "Al-Asma wal-Sifat" it is very abbreviated, with the wording, "Reflect on everything, but do not reflect on the Essence of Allah." Its chain is daif, despite being mawquf, because of Ata bin Saaib, for he became confused in his memory late in life, and Khalid and Ali narrated from him during that period of confusion. It has also been narrated as marfu, and that too is daif.However, its meaning is sahih, because the true reality of the Essence of Allah cannot be grasped through reflection no matter how much we employ it. Rather, we have been commanded to reflect and to use our reasoning regarding the creation of Allah. Allah has praised those who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying, "Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for people of understanding, who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying, Our Lord, You did not create this in vain. Glory be to You, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire" [Al Imran 3:190–191].And Allah has condemned those who do not reflect on His creation, the Exalted, "Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those who came before them? They were greater than them in strength" [Ghafir 40:21].